syn-1,2-Amino alcohols via diastereoselective allylic C-H amination

A novel Pd/sulfoxide catalyzed diastereoselective allylic C−H amination reaction of chiral homoallylic N-tosyl carbamates is reported. Densely oxygenated α-olefin substrates with multiple stereogenic centers undergo allylic C−H amination in excellent yields and with diastereoselectivities that are controlled by the stereocenter that bears the N-tosyl carbamate. Streamlined routes to stereochemically defined anti-oxazolidinones that can be further elaborated to medicinally and biologically relevant 1,2-amino alcohols are also demonstrated. Evidence is provided that this reaction proceeds via a Pd/sulfoxide-mediated allylic C−H cleavage to form a π-allylPd intermediate followed by Pd(II) counterion-assisted deprotonation of the nitrogen nucleophile to effect functionalization.